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BASIC RESEARCH SKILLS Academic English II, Even Semester 2012-2013

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HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ASKED BY ANY OF YOUR LECTURERS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SIMILAR TO THE ONES BELOW?

1. Find the GDP of ASEAN countries. 2. How did WWII break out? 3. Gather evidence to support the abolition of

the death penalty for drug convicts.

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WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Research comes from the Middle French term “recercher” which means “act of searching closely” and “recercher” (old French) which means “seek out; search closely.”

-Online Etymology Dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=research

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WHAT IS RESEARCH?

1. “Serious study of a subject, in order to discover new facts or test new ideas”

-Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

2. “the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions”

-http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/research

3. “the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions”

-http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/research

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WORKSHOP : THINK-PAIR-SHARE

Come up with your own definition of research.

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SRES OF RESEARCH

Searching for information Reviewing information Evaluating information

-Retrieved from http://www.edison.edu/library/researchskills/Unit1/1whatIsResearch.php

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ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH

In today’s academic setting, research can be:

1. A search for facts or data2. A report or review designed to synthesize

information from many different sources 3. An analysis of a body of information or data

to offer solutions or form conclusions

http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/info_literacy/modules/module2/2_1.htm

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WHAT RESEARCH IS NOT

Research is NOT reading books from the library at whim

Research is NOT simply surfing the Internet aimlessly

Research is NOT haphazardly reading magazines and newspaper on random topics

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WHAT RESEARCH IS…

- purposeful- organized and well thought-out - involves resourcefulness and intelligent use of relevant facts, data- involves syntheses of ideas from many different sources

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RESEARCH METHODS

Primary Research – “direct experience of creating information” e.g. interview of experts in the field

Secondary Research – “finding out what others have said and written on a topic” e.g. review of literature on a topic

Yuson-de Leon, Serraon-Claudio, Jamorabo-Ruiz, 2012, p. 7

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THE RESEARCH PROCESSHTTP://WWW.EDISON.EDU/LIBRARY/RESEARCHSKILLS/UNIT1/3SIXSTEPS.PHP

Step 1

•Determining Research Needs

Step 2

•Defining a Research Topic

Step 3

•Developing a Search Strategy

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THE RESEARCH PROCESSHTTP://WWW.EDISON.EDU/LIBRARY/RESEARCHSKILLS/UNIT1/3SIXSTEPS.PHP

Step 4

•Conducting the search

Step 5

•Evaluating Resources

Step 6

•Citing Resources

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DETERMINING RESEARCH NEEDS (TAKEN

VERBATIM FROM HTTP://WWW.EDISON.EDU/LIBRARY/RESEARCHSKILLS/UNIT2/8GETTINGORGANIZED.PHP

What type of assignment, e.g., a book review, research paper, or presentation, has my professor assigned?

How many resources does my professor require, what should they cover, and what is their minimum length?

Does my professor require me to find information published during a certain period of time?

Does my professor require me to use a specific type of publication, such as a peer reviewed journal, reference book, or newspaper?

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DETERMINING RESEARCH NEEDS (TAKEN

VERBATIM FROM HTTP://WWW.EDISON.EDU/LIBRARY/RESEARCHSKILLS/UNIT2/8GETTINGORGANIZED.PHP )

Does my professor require me to use published materials, primary sources, or a combination of both?

Does my professor require me to find resources in a particular format, such as a film, website, or CD?

Does my professor require me to take a stance, make an argument, or address a controversial issue?

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DEFINING A RESEARCH TOPIC (TAKEN VERBATIM

FROM HTTP://WWW.EDISON.EDU/LIBRARY/RESEARCHSKILLS/UNIT2/8GETTINGORGANIZED.PHP

List some potential research topics.

Write two or three questions about your research topics.

Identify two or three keywords from each question.

Brainstorm some synonyms for the keywords you identified in your questions.

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CHOOSING A RESEARCH TOPIC Topics may be assigned by your lecturer or

you may be asked to choose your own

Characteristics of a Good Topic - interesting- manageable in terms of available resources - narrowed down

Yuson-de Leon, Serraon-Claudio, Jamorabo-Ruiz, 2012

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CHOOSING A RESEARCH TOPIC

Classification of Topics

- Expository or factual type – explains or describes

- Interpretive – requires not just fact-finding but also taking a stand on an issue

Yuson-de Leon, Serraon-Claudio, Jamorabo-Ruiz, 2012

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WORKSHOP

In pairs, think of a good research topic. Make sure that the topic is interesting, relevant to your field of specialization, manageable, and researchable. Be guided by slides 15-17 of this presentation.

Present in front of the class.

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REFERENCES Edison College Libraries (2013). General Research Skills. Retrieved from

http://www.edison.edu/library/researchskills/Unit1/1whatIsResearch.php

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. (2009). Pearson Education Limited.

Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=research

Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/research

University of Idaho (2013). Information Literacy. Retrieved from http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/info_literacy/modules/module2/2_1.htm

Yuson-de Leon, Serraon-Claudio, Jamorabo-Ruiz, (2012). Term Paper and Scientific Writing with Guidelines for Research Methods and Theses (4th ed.) Manila: Merriam & Webster Bookstore, Inc.